New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-19
LIGHTNING FIRES COTTON.
STATEN ISLAND WAREHOUSES; BURNED.

THE Loss OVER $500, ,OOO-NARRow ESCAPE OF
SEVERAL MEN-MR. wIMAN CHEERFUL
stroke OF lightning caused the American Dock and
Trust Company heavy loss by fire last night at its
storage warehouses at Tompknsville, Staten Island.
Three large buildings destroyed with their
tents and at late hour it looked If two other build
ings would also fall p.ey to the flames. 1t Is
thought that fully 10000 bales of cotton
burned up or damaged The total loss estimated at
$3oO,0OO. Ihe company owns about $50 feet Of
water front at Tompkinsville 1t has four piers about
sixtyhve feet wide and running out 400 rect They
are covered with structures of corrugated iron. The
cotton received on sorages kept in three big blocks
OF brick warehonses The full capacity Of the company
within the middle block. which consists of one four
story warehouse, 50 feet wide by 200 feet deep.
were two stories in height while back OF these were
three one-story buildings, No. IL, IL and 13. Each
warehouse is separated by fire walls sixteen inches
thick, while the walls of the main storehouse were
thlrty-twO inches thick.
Nedad w. Stone Is the local superintendent OF the
company. He lives in handsome house just back OF
embankment About 615 D. m. while q severe
thunder storm was at it's height and the wind
blowing gale from the northwest, Mr.. Stone heard
terrific crash that exceeded the noise of the previous
thunderbolts 1t is supposed that the electric fluid
passed through sky.light Of the iourstory ware
house and set the nfanmable material within in
and In few moments he saw q fork OF flame
shoot out of the root OF the big building by the
water He instantly put the telegraph at work to
summon assistance fiom this city, from the Staten
Island fire department and from the tugboats OF the
Standard Oil Company lying at Brooklyn piers. Be-
pouring out of the root OF Building No. H. and out
urd glare that could be against the black sky
as tar up as this city The tremendous torce of the
wind blew the flames furiousv through the masses OF
cotton and walls and pillars topplcd easily beneath
the intense heat.
The entire fire department OF Staten Island
called out and under command of Chief Elijah Van
Gerbtlt wnaryes
fighting the fire. Seven engines brought into use
but the hose carriages looked like toys The earliest
helm received from the three tugs belonging to the
Standard Oil Company, the Daylight. the Standard
and the Brilliant. which swiftly steamed TO the big
T0mpkinsyille piers in response to Mr.. Stones cal,
and were pumping big streams OF water into tho
burning buildng. About 945 p. m. the fre-boat
Havemeyer from NewiOrk got TO the scene and lent
it's help to qucll the flames. The fire spread so rap
dy. however while the gale lasted that it was soon
simple question rs TO whether some OF tie warehouses
adjoining No. could be saved. The tate OF No. was
settled when part OF the wall OF the four-story build
ing fell upon it's roof Shortly acrward another mass
OF fiery brick fell upon the onestory warehouse No
ii. complete wreck was made of these three store
houses and the fire making strong headway at an
early hour this morning in undermining the dcences
Of No and Nos. u and l3
The ferrvboats carried many curious passengers
from Newfork to the railroad station ut st. George
and it seemed as il pretty nearly all OF Staten Island
gathered near the scene of the big blazc Captain CobD
marshalled the hosts OF blue-coatcd policemen who
kept very people outside of the fire lines Erastns
Wiman. who has returned from his Canadian trip,
early reached the piers and wrapped in long plaid
ulster with plaid cap pulled down close over his ears
lent every sort OF aid and stimulus To the laDorn8
fremcn.
We have done pretty well" he said toa TGIBUNE
reporter the hardest part of the work of the fire.
fighters done. W e have confined this fire to one
building and that ia more than the New-York Fire
Department could do With such material as cotton
In these warehouses and with the fearful gale that was
blowing at the outset il was an impossbility TO at
tempt prevent the destruction OF the building where
the hamos started. But Staten Island can do as we'll
~ New-i York in lighting fire and we have the whole
Bay TO get our water iroin.'
About haltpast 10 biz part OF the wall oil Building
No. Tell with n crash toward the water 'front.',
fngiug bri,ks and stones many feet into tho
AZ. fireman named Calvin Lisk, of Port Rich
mond Company No. had his hip and leg hurt by the
debris just previous to the falling OF tho walls SIX
men from the tug boat Standard were called away
from exposed position and they barely made their
escape before the tumble camc. Some OF tho hardest
work in controlling the flames was done by the men OF
the l. j. Merritt, OF the Coast Wrecking CON-
pany. n.
Company is Jabez A. Bostwck. formerly treasurer OF
the Standard Oil Company, and A. j. Pouch is the
treasurer The office OF the concern is in the Cotton
Exchange. The company was carrying an IN
usually light stock OF cotton its loss would have
been greater No idea of the relative losses on the
stock aud the structures could be obtained in.the
confusion last night The buildings are said to he
owned BY individuals who lease them to the American
Company. Manager Stone said that the buildings
fully insured and he supposed oil the cotton
they contained was insured by tue owners.
About two weeks ago the employees OF the company
went on strike TO help the coal beavers of Newfork
harbor in their battle Some OF them members OF
the fire department and this gave rise to rumor that
the zeal OF the flames not stroke OF light
ming. About thirteen months ago the company
suffered from fire in the block OF warehouses south OF
the block that was burned last night.
fash OF lightning was seen descending on tho
house OF Charles Mokenna, OF Paterson last evening
and Immediately aiterwar1 the root was on htc. Mo-
Kenna assisted by neghbors, put olt the flames
before they had gained any hesdway. The hole made
by the bolt two feet III diameter